Free Tax Tools

Tools built for self-employed workers.
Free, no account needed.

Use these year-round — not just at tax time. Know what you owe, track every deduction, and never miss a quarterly deadline.

Tax EstimatorLive Quarterly Due DatesLive Deduction ChecklistLive Mileage TrackerComing Soon

All Tools

What’s available now — and what’s coming

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Tax Estimator

Enter your income and deductions and get an instant breakdown — federal tax, self-employment tax, quarterly payment amount, and a monthly savings tip.

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2026 Quarterly Due Dates

All four IRS payment deadlines for 2026 in one place, with a note on how to pay and what the safe harbor rule means for you.

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Deduction Checklist

Every deduction self-employed workers can claim — interactive, checkable, organized by impact. Stars mark the highest-value deductions.

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Coming Soon
Mileage Tracker

Log business trips, calculate your IRS deduction in real time, and export a clean PDF at tax time. Built for rideshare and delivery drivers.

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One email when it launches. That’s it.

2026 Quarterly Due Dates

When to pay the IRS this year

Miss a deadline and you owe a penalty — even if you pay everything in April. The IRS requires self-employed workers to pay estimated taxes four times per year.

Q1 — First Quarter
Income: Jan 1 – Mar 31
April 15
2026
Covers your first 3 months of income
Q2 — Second Quarter
Income: Apr 1 – May 31
June 15
2026
Only 2 months — plan accordingly
Q3 — Third Quarter
Income: Jun 1 – Aug 31
Sept 15
2026
Covers June, July, and August
Q4 — Fourth Quarter
Income: Sep 1 – Dec 31
Jan 15
2027
Or file your full return by Jan 31, 2027

How to pay: Use IRS Direct Pay at irs.gov/payments — free, no account needed, pay directly from your bank account. Use our Tax Estimator to calculate your payment amount before each deadline.

Interactive Checklist

Self-Employed Deduction Checklist

Check every deduction that applies to your situation. Keep documentation for everything you claim. Want this as a printable PDF? Get the free Starter Kit →

★ High impact — these move the needle most
□ Click any item to check it off
Above-the-Line Deductions — claimed on Form 1040, not Schedule C
★Qualified Business Income (QBI) — Section 199A
Deduct up to 20% of your net business income from federal taxes — one of the largest deductions available.
★Self-employed health insurance premiums
Reduces your adjusted gross income directly — not just your Schedule C income.
Dental and vision insurance premiums
Same above-the-line treatment as health insurance — often missed.
Long-term care insurance premiums
Deductible up to age-based IRS limits — see IRS Publication 502.
★SEP-IRA contributions
Up to 25% of net self-employment income — dollar-for-dollar reduction in taxable income.
Solo 401(k) contributions
Higher contribution limits than SEP-IRA — available if you have no full-time employees.
SIMPLE IRA contributions
Another retirement option for self-employed workers with no employees.
★Half of self-employment tax paid
The IRS lets you deduct 50% of your SE tax — calculated automatically on Schedule SE.
Vehicle & Transportation
★Business mileage — standard rate method
Multiply total business miles by the current IRS rate. Log every trip — date, destination, and purpose.
Actual vehicle expenses (alternative to standard rate)
Gas, insurance, repairs, registration — prorated to your business-use percentage.
Parking fees and tolls
Deductible on top of mileage. Keep receipts or bank statement entries.
Car washes for business vehicle
Reasonable and necessary — especially relevant for rideshare drivers.
Business travel — flights, hotels, car rental
Must be overnight travel away from home for business. Not the same as local commuting.
Car loan interest — business-use portion
Deduct the business-use percentage of your vehicle loan interest — confirm eligibility at IRS.gov.
Home Office
★Home office — simplified method ($5 per sq ft, max $1,500)
Must be used regularly and exclusively for business. Easiest method, no depreciation recapture on sale.
Home office — actual expenses method
Prorate rent or mortgage interest, utilities, and insurance by office sq ft — usually a larger deduction.
Home office furniture and equipment
Desk, chair, monitor — deductible if used exclusively in a qualifying home office.
Dedicated business rent outside home
If you rent an office, studio, or storage unit for your business — fully deductible.
Equipment & Depreciation
★Section 179 expensing
Deduct the full cost of qualifying equipment in the year of purchase instead of over several years.
Bonus depreciation — 100% available for 2026
Fully deduct qualifying new or used equipment placed in service during 2026.
Computers and tablets — business-use portion
Deduct the percentage used for business. Fully deductible if used exclusively for work.
Tools and equipment specific to your trade
Any equipment necessary for your business — document the business connection for each item.
Dash cam
Business safety equipment for rideshare and delivery drivers — fully deductible.
Phone mount, charger, and work accessories
Required equipment for platform workers — fully deductible.
Phone, Technology & Software
★Cell phone — business-use portion
Deduct the percentage used for business (typically 50–80%). Document how you calculated it.
Data plan — business-use portion
Same percentage as the phone itself.
Software and app subscriptions
Scheduling, accounting, navigation, and tax software used for your business.
Internet service — business-use portion
Prorate if you also use it personally and document your calculation method.
Professional subscriptions and dues
Industry publications, LinkedIn Premium, and professional association memberships.
Business Operations & Fees
Business insurance premiums
Commercial auto, general liability, and professional liability policies.
Legal and professional fees
Accountant, tax preparer, and attorney fees related to your business.
Business bank account fees
Monthly maintenance and transaction fees on a dedicated business account.
Merchant and payment processing fees
Stripe, PayPal, Square, and similar fees on business transactions.
Business interest expense
Interest paid on business loans or credit cards used for business purposes.
Business licenses and regulatory fees
Required permits, vehicle inspections mandated by platforms, and filing fees.
Advertising and marketing
Business cards, online ads, website hosting, and social media promotion costs.
Office supplies
Paper, pens, printer ink, postage, envelopes.
Business meals — 50% deductible
Note the name of who you met and the business purpose on every receipt.
Client gifts
Up to $25 per person per year. Note the recipient and business reason.
Startup costs
Up to $5,000 deductible in year one — legal fees, research, and pre-launch costs.
Industry-Specific — Gig & Delivery Workers
Insulated delivery bags
Required for food delivery workers — fully deductible.
Uniforms or work clothing not suitable for everyday wear
Must be required for work AND not suitable for personal use.
Gig platform equipment and supplies
Any equipment required or recommended by your platform for business use.
Education & Professional Development
Courses and training related to current work
Must maintain or improve skills in your existing business — not training for a new career.
Business books and industry publications
Directly related to your current business activity and trade.
Conference and workshop fees
Industry events attended for business development or professional knowledge.
Checked: 0 of 0 deductions
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Get the complete Starter Kit — free

Mileage log, deduction checklist, and estimated tax cheat sheet — all as printable PDFs delivered to your inbox.

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